"Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!!!"
Up in the air, Peter soared freely with the Demon-Hunting Cloak, unable to stop shouting.
On the rooftop, Mark watched with a smile.
Bruce was having so much fun!
At the window next door, Mary Jane had already been secretly watching the two of them.
Seeing Peter actually take flight left her stunned, her mind churning.
Looking again at Mark in his Suit, Mary Jane seemed to understand something.
Peter's superpowers weren't his own!
Spider-Man could actually lend his superpowers to other people!
Mary Jane covered her mouth, forcing herself not to cry out.
This was incredible.
She carefully closed the window, thinking back over their conversation.
Bruce!
That's right, it had to be Bruce!
That had to be the password that activated the superpowers.
Mary Jane took a deep breath, a gleam lighting up her eyes.
At that moment, she felt as though she had seized her future.
She looked around her room and found what she needed.
She was going to make her own Suit.
She was going to become a Superhero, too.
Only then could she escape the curse of the family she had been born into and truly get what she wanted.
Time ticked away.
Finally, at eight that evening, she finished.
By cutting up clothes that were out of season, she had completed her first step toward becoming a Superhero.
Next, she leaned close to the window and carefully watched for any activity next door.
Then she heard someone call, "Bruce."
"Bruce, where are you? We need to go hunt demons."
At those words, Mary Jane threw open her window.
"I'm here! I've been here all along!"
She spoke excitedly.
By now, she had changed into a red, skintight Suit.
Her burgundy hair was tied high, her red lips fiery.
A black lace mask made her look both sexy and mysterious.
Hearing Bruce's voice, Mark opened his window and looked at Mary Jane.
He smiled warmly. "Good job, Bruce. I didn't expect you to be home today. I thought you'd gone off to find that Red-Haired Bitch again!"
Red-haired?
Bitch?
Although Mary Jane didn't understand, she somehow felt offended.
She quickly pushed those stray thoughts aside.
"Spider-Man, let's get started!"
"Yeah, Bruce. Let's go hunt demons."
With that, Mark leaped out, flicking his wrist to shoot a web and swing down Bleecker Street.
Seeing this, Mary Jane looked down at the ground outside her window, summoned her courage, and jumped.
"Fly!!"
Whoosh!
In an instant, the wind howled. An inexplicable Holy Light enveloped her body, and the Holy Light Cloak appeared around her.
An invisible force lifted her into the air.
"It worked! It worked!!"
Mary Jane shrieked with excitement.
But soon, she felt that power draining rapidly, and her body began slowly sinking.
"Oh no!"
Her expression changed.
Mark had already swung far ahead, and Mary Jane immediately realized the crucial problem.
She couldn't get too far from Spider-Man!
At that thought, she willed the Demon-Hunting Cloak to sweep up the wind and carry her straight toward Spider-Man.
Whoosh!
The wind roared as the red figure quickly caught up with Spider-Man.
Once she drew close to Mark, the magical cloak behind Mary Jane finally solidified, leaving her in no danger of falling.
Realizing this, Mary Jane breathed a sigh of relief.
She had guessed right.
And her gamble had paid off.
Never had she been as grateful to her father as she was at that moment.
Because her father was a compulsive gambler.
Her father had destroyed their family.
Now she had become a compulsive gambler, too.
But she had won her bet.
She had seized a chance to change her fate.
And that chance was Spider-Man!
Mary Jane gazed at Mark ahead of her, her resolve hardening.
She had to become Bruce.
The only Bruce!
What happened next only strengthened that resolve.
As the two of them flew into the bustling city center, the cries of astonishment that rang out one after another satisfied Mary Jane's vanity.
"Oh my God, it's Spider-Man!"
"No, look! There's someone else, a lady in red!"
"She's got a great figure. She must be gorgeous."
"Is she a Superhero, too?"
"She must be. If she's here with Spider-Man, she has to be a Superhero."
"No, he's an evil Unknown Evil Entity! The real hero is the editor-in-chief of the Daily Bugle! I love J. Jonah Jameson..."
The lone dissenter in the crowd shouted at the top of his lungs, only to be swallowed up by the throng.
Meanwhile, Mark climbed onto the antenna tower atop the Empire State Building.
It offered the best view, making it the easiest place to spot any demons.
Mary Jane followed close behind.
Standing beside Mark, she looked down over the bustling, neon-lit city.
It was a view she had never seen before.
"Thank you, Spider-Man."
She stared at it all in a daze, then offered Mark her heartfelt thanks.
She liked heroes because they could give her a sense of security.
But now, she realized she might not need heroes anymore.
She only needed Spider-Man.
The next moment, a large hand gently stroked Bruce's head.
"Bruce, we're the best of partners," Mark said with a smile.
Mary Jane lowered her head.
"That's right, the best of partners. Too bad I'm... just a despicable thief."
"That bug has shown up."
In the Secret Laboratory, Norman watched Spider-Man on his computer screen, his smile beginning to twist again.
Professor Connors nodded. "Don't worry. They've already started moving."
"I trust you, Connors. Once we kill Spider-Man, no one will be able to stop our plan."
As Norman spoke, the laboratory trembled slightly.
There seemed to be an attack outside.
It was his demon army.
This had been part of the plan all along.
Green Goblin had attacked Stark Industries, as well as Otto's Artificial Sun Laboratory.
Now, Green Goblin had to attack Osborn Tower!
Otherwise, those annoying agents would certainly suspect him.
Norman sneered as he watched the footage of Osborn Tower surrounded by Green Goblins.
Sacrificing a building in exchange for Spider-Man's death.
It was a very good deal.
Meanwhile, at S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Director, they've appeared! More Green Goblins have appeared!"
Coulson rushed into Nick Fury's office.
Looking anxious, he said, "This time it's the Osborn Group. We guessed right. Green Goblin is targeting weapons and energy supplies. He wants to cut off supplies to the city's armed forces."
Nick Fury stood up. "Go get Steve. It's time he stretched his legs."
Coulson nodded, then shook his head.
"Director, I hear Spider-Man is also looking for Green Goblin. If the Captain runs into Spider-Man, they..."
"Don't worry."
Nick Fury waved a hand. "Green Goblin is the demon now. At most, Steve counts as... well, Bruce, Spider-Man's good partner."
"Hey, Bruce. Found the demons."
Atop the Empire State Building, Mark spotted flames in the distance.
This time, it was a pack of Demon Dragons!
Mark's expression grew serious. "Bruce, this is going to be a tough fight. Are you ready?" he asked, looking at Mary Jane.
Mary Jane took a deep breath.
"I'm ready."
If she wanted to become a hero and receive the treatment a hero deserved, she had to pay the price.
There was no getting around it.
Meanwhile, at the Kölly Apartments.
After receiving the news, Gwen Stacy immediately sprang into action as well.
"Buddy, it's our turn."
Without hesitation, Gwen Stacy leaped off the building. Black liquid spread over her body as she fell, bringing the Symbiote Suit into place.
After tonight, New York would have a second Spider-Man!